Return-chute for pool-tables.



B. A. MINN.

RETURN CHUTE vFISI- POOL TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. i917.

Patented Ju1y16, 1918.

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RETURNCHUTE FOR PooL TABLES.

APLiCATloN FILED MAR. 3. 19j?.

Patented July 16, 1918.

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BERNARD n. v lvriivlv, or MILWAUKEE, wise'iivfsiivlY i RETURN-CHUTE FOR PooL-:TABLEs Specicationiof etters Patent.

Patentedy July i6, 191s'.

Application led March 3, 1917. Serial No. 152,172.

To all whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that LBERNARD A. MINN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of I/Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Return-Chutes for Pool-Tables, of which the following is a f description, reference being had to the Vaccompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification. Y

This invention relates to return chutes for pool tables and has for its object to permit ready access to all parts "of the chute so that when balls become blocked therein they may be easily reached and released and the obstruction removed. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a return chute built into the table so as Y to be unnoticeable and not detract from the appearance of the table. s

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the return chute for pool tables as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in dierent views:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pool table having embodied therein a return chute constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewthereof with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 isan end view thereof; l

Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale of parts on the plane of line 4 4 ofpF ig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through` one of the side pockets on the plane of line 5-.5 of. Fig. 2.

In these drawings 10 indicates thetable proper supporting the slate slab 11 and mounted on legs 12'A as usual. The ordinary rails 13 with cushions 14 surround the table and the pockets l5 at the co are of common construction. -1 Y Y Instead of having a chute centrally beneath the table, as usual, a box like cornice 16 surrounds the table just below the level of the pockets and contains a pair of spaced `beveled strips 17 forming an inclined chute extending along each side of the table from by Letters lPatent rners and sides Y one end thereof to the other where they turn the corners and discharge through an opening 18 into a receiving box ,19. There are thus two Vseparate chutes leading to the receiving b'oX, one on each side of the table and each draining all three pockets on its side of the table. The leather pockets form spouts directing the balls 20 to the chutes and bent in the direction the balls travel in the chutes so as toexpedite their discharge.v

The table frame 23 is slotted and the top is grooved to accomn'iodate the spout of each pocket.

The return chutes are built outside of the apron'21 of the table and their bottoms are open'so that when a ball becomes caught therein, as by means of apiece of chalk or the like blocking its passage, found by reaching slot between strips 17. In this manner the obstruction is quickly removed and the ball is free t0 continue its travel. The pocket spouts Yclear the chutes without obstructing them and still deliver the balls close thereto to avoid a noisy operation. As a further means for making the operation quiet the chutes are provided with cushioning strips 22 of some vsoft material.

By building the return chute into the table it may be easily it is entirely hiddenfrom view V,and does'not affect the appearance of the table.

That I claim as new and desire to secure 1s: a f l. A return chute for pool tables, compris- Ving a box like cornice around they tablerbe- `neath the table top and outside the legs, in-l A' clined pairs: of Strips secured within thisV the hand through the VseV cornice and extendingalongeach sideY of" the table fromone end thereof to the other and having the pockets dlschargethereln,

said strips at their lower parts turning in a* discharge opening and a receiving boX beneath the discharge opening. j

2. An invisible silent return chute for pool tables, comprising a box like cornice around the tablebeneath the table top and outside around theend of the table and terminating the legs and apron, inclined pairs of strips y secured to the cornice and the vapron respec- Atvelyto fonn a runway extending algng icq; I

each side of the table from one end thereof terminating in a discharge opening, and a to the other, pockets curved around the edge receiving box beneath the discharge opening. 1; of the table top and discharging obliqueiy In testimony whereof, I aiX my signature, into the runways in they direction of the in presence of two witnesses,

5 travel of the balls in the runways, eushion- Y y, BERNARD A. MINN; ing strips of soft material on the strips orm- Witnesses: ing the runways, said runways at their lower L. G. SHEURER, Y parts turning around the end of the table and H. D. CHASE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commhsioner of Patents,

` Y Washington, D. C." 

